Oysters bathed in tandoori-spiced butter. Lobster simmered in silky coconut sauce with fennel and black pepper. Roasted pumpkin soup kissed with truffle oil.
Those dishes might sound like the menu from a coastal bistro — but they’re at Rivayat, the city’s bold new Indian restaurant now open at 210 Rutledge Avenue.
A New Kind of Indian Restaurant
Owner Sujith Varghese isn’t interested in the ordinary. The man behind Mount Pleasant’s Spice Palette wanted to create something Charleston hadn’t seen before: an elevated Indian dining experience rooted in tradition but inspired by the seafood culture of India — and the bounty of the Lowcountry.
“We’re bringing together the flavors of India’s coastal regions with ingredients right here in Charleston,” Varghese told the Post & Courier. “It’s about connection — between cultures, between oceans.”
Rivayat (pronounced ree-vah-yat) opened Sept. 18 in the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood, taking over the space that once housed Malaysian eatery Makan. Inside, the transformation is striking: a sleek new bar, framed prints of fishermen from Varghese’s parents’ hometown in southern India, and hand-painted murals by a local artist.
Where Comfort Meets Creativity
Yes, you can still find the classics — butter chicken, lamb vindaloo, samosa chaat, and pillowy naan. But the menu leans toward discovery. Think elegant riffs on Indian standards, dishes that merge spice with subtlety, and flavors that invite sharing.
At the bar, craft cocktails mirror that same spirit of fusion, pairing Indian aromatics with Charleston sensibility.
The restaurant seats about 60 guests, offering both lunch and dinner service Tuesday through Sunday. The goal: a space that feels sophisticated but never stiff — where date nights, friend groups, and curious food lovers all fit right in.
Inspired by the Best
Varghese drew inspiration from Rasika in Washington, D.C., and Chatti by Regi Mathew in New York City — restaurants that reimagined Indian cuisine with fine-dining finesse. When the Rutledge space opened up, he saw his chance to bring that energy to Charleston.
“Charleston understands good food and good storytelling,” he said. “Rivayat is our way of sharing both.”
If You Go
📍 Rivayat, 210 Rutledge Ave., Charleston
⏰ Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday–Sunday
🌐 rivayatcreativeindian.com
